Louisiana_Sitar_Club:I hadn't watched that show before but a couple of weeks ago, my son started recording it so I watched a couple episodes. Wow, is it boring.

you should watch a few more seasons, it really gets good when they review that car and then drive it around the track, and then show you a road trip, and another road trip, oh, and there was that road trip they went on.

CleanAndPure:Louisiana_Sitar_Club: I hadn't watched that show before but a couple of weeks ago, my son started recording it so I watched a couple episodes. Wow, is it boring.

Did you watch the American or British version?

The American version is bland and humourless. The British version with May, Hammond, and Clarkson is 100 times better.

That said. Could do without the car reviews... lol. Just blow stuff up.

I'd like to meet the people in charge of hiring the US version's hosts. Clearly they missed the boat on what makes the UK version great. You have a whiny 'driver' guy, a whiny fat guy who dresses as a dyke, and mole guy.

I'd like to meet the people in charge of hiring the US version's hosts. Clearly they missed the boat on what makes the UK version great. You have a whiny 'driver' guy, a whiny fat guy who dresses as a dyke, and mole guy.

It would seem I watched the wrong version. I didn't even know they make a UK one.

the US one is not good. but the UK one is brilliant. hardly boring. unless you don't like cars and snarky commentary, i guess.

CleanAndPure:

Did you watch the American or British version?

The American version is bland and humourless. The British version with May, Hammond, and Clarkson is 100 times better.

That said. Could do without the car reviews... lol. Just blow stuff up.

buckets_of_fun:

I'd like to meet the people in charge of hiring the US version's hosts. Clearly they missed the boat on what makes the UK version great. You have a whiny 'driver' guy, a whiny fat guy who dresses as a dyke, and mole guy.

It would seem I watched the wrong version. I didn't even know they make a UK one.

If you haven't seen the UK version you're in for a treat. Granted as an American not every car they review is something you're familiar with, but its about the stunts and adventures they go on. Their Polar special I think is my favorite.

I was introduced to it a few years ago. Possibly someone else here can recommend what seasons to watch. I don' think starting to watch episodes from the last couple years is a good starting point. IMO.

Louisiana_Sitar_Club:It would seem I watched the wrong version. I didn't even know they make a UK one.

you're in for a treat. it's available on netflix streaming (and you can watch bits on youtube).

because the BBC do not accept advertising, the hosts can give their actual opinions, which are often unbridled and hilarious. plus, they're just ascerbic as all hell. so, yeah, comparing the two isn't fair.

you're in for a treat. it's available on netflix streaming (and you can watch bits on youtube).

because the BBC do not accept advertising, the hosts can give their actual opinions, which are often unbridled and hilarious. plus, they're just ascerbic as all hell. so, yeah, comparing the two isn't fair.

Has anyone pointed out yet how horrible the American "Top Gear" is? Because it's as terrible as the BBC version is brilliant. I understand there's an Aussie "Top Gear" as well, but I've never seen an episode. Any Aussies want to weigh in?

you're in for a treat. it's available on netflix streaming (and you can watch bits on youtube).

because the BBC do not accept advertising, the hosts can give their actual opinions, which are often unbridled and hilarious. plus, they're just ascerbic as all hell. so, yeah, comparing the two isn't fair.

you're in for a treat. it's available on netflix streaming (and you can watch bits on youtube).

because the BBC do not accept advertising, the hosts can give their actual opinions, which are often unbridled and hilarious. plus, they're just ascerbic as all hell. so, yeah, comparing the two isn't fair.

And there are many more examples of their brilliant engineering. Besides the aforementioned Reliant Robin space shuttle and the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, they've also built trains, mobile homes, police cruisers, convertibles, mobility scooters, a snow plow (with a flamethrower, because why not?) and a pickup truck that was able to drive from England to France.

Louisiana_Sitar_Club:It would seem I watched the wrong version. I didn't even know they make a UK one.

Netflix is the answer. They have Series 2-17. Top Gear U.K. is, hands down, my favorite show. If you love cars, stuff being destroyed, and dumb stuff that goes horribly wrong (i.e. making a convertible minivan) then you will love this show.

Comparing the UK and US versions of the show isn't really fair. The UK version is in its 20ish season, and is a well oiled machine. I think the US version is only in its second season, and it you remember the first 2 seasons, of this version of UK Top Gear, were almost unwatchable. They didn't have Captain Slow or Hammond, just some fat dude and Jeremy.

To me Clarkson makes the entire show and it would be hard to find someone like him for the US version, it would need to be someone with a really sharp tongue. At one time they talked about Jay Leno doing a Top Gear like show, and he might have the stupidity factor down but fails in the quick wit department.

sab6300:Comparing the UK and US versions of the show isn't really fair. The UK version is in its 20ish season, and is a well oiled machine. I think the US version is only in its second season, and it you remember the first 2 seasons, of this version of UK Top Gear, were almost unwatchable. They didn't have Captain Slow or Hammond, just some fat dude and Jeremy.

That's a fair point, although Hammond was on it from the beginning, and the segment they had the fat guy doing was really lame even when they transferred over to May - fortunately they dropped it after the second or third season, I think. I just can't see the U.S. hosts achieving anything like the chemistry of the UK hosts, unfortunately - Foust is the only one of the three I found remotely watchable, and while he's a fine driver, he just doesn't have the acting or presentation skills (or writing) to be very interesting.

demonbug:That's a fair point, although Hammond was on it from the beginning, and the segment they had the fat guy doing was really lame even when they transferred over to May - fortunately they dropped it after the second or third season, I think. I just can't see the U.S. hosts achieving anything like the chemistry of the UK hosts, unfortunately - Foust is the only one of the three I found remotely watchable, and while he's a fine driver, he just doesn't have the acting or presentation skills (or writing) to be very interesting.

The lesbian looking dude is ok in my mind and he's my wife's favorite host, so maybe he covers the female demo, like Hammond in the UK version? They just need someone that is more quick witted for the US version. A car savoy Daniel Tosh-like host would do well, someone that isn't afraid of the backlash from their comments.

The US cast seems too young in my eyes, but I agree with you that Tanner is the best of the 3

This beast of a lawn mower still needs to be able to cut grass. The Honda team dumped the regular metal blades and installed two electric motors with two bits of brake cable attached. Those suckers spin at 4,000 rpm. That might be enough to slice through an entire tree.

I think one of the big problems with the US Top Gear is that it removed an important basic feature of the show, which is to provide snarky, but intelligent, testing and reviews of cars. While the UK hosts seem to be insufferable car snobs that you would avoid at parties, they are quite witty and know what they're talking about. The US hosts seem to have been selected as sitcom actors and none have convinced me they know squat about cars.